GE Consumer & Industrial, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is voluntarily recalling about 2.5 million dishwashers sold under the Eterna, Hotpoint, GE, GE Profile, GE Monogram and Sears-Kenmore brands due to a potential fire hazard.
The units were sold between 1997 and 2001 in white, black, almond, bisque and stainless-steel finishes and generally carried a $400 price point.
According to the federal agency, GE has received 191 reports of overheated wiring, including 56 reports of property damage and 12 reports of fires that spread outside the appliances to adjacent areas. No injuries have been reported.
Affected models could develop a build-up of liquid rinse-aid within the dispenser, resulting in possible leaks onto the dishwasher’s internal wiring. This could degrade the wiring’s insulation, leading to an electrical short and overheating or fire if the wire comes in contact with the metal door, GE said.
GE is advising consumers to stop using the recalled dishwashers and to contact the company for a free repair or a rebate toward the purchase of a replacement unit ($150 for GE models and $300 for Profile or Monogram models).
A list of affected models and their serial numbers is available at www.geappliances.com.
